After My Death, My Husband Who Threw Me Into the Hunting Grounds Went Insane novel Chapter 121

GABRIEL

I had imagined these particular scenarios with Audrey in the past months when she started working for me – a very much willing and spread-out Audrey on my bed when I would finally claim her body. Her sapphire eyes pleading with me, her hair falling on my face when she rides me, and those fantasies could never compare to reality. My gorgeous angel was staring wide-eyed at me in wonder in the morning. I rolled over the bed.

"Good morning, beautiful," I murmured and brushed my lips on her forehead. "How many times have I wished waking up next to you."

She giggled. "Good morning. Technically, I woke up next to you once."

I moved my mouth to her rosy cheek before I slid up my hand to her jaw. "You weren't naked before," I teased, and she laughed once more. The noises she made last night were fucking sexy, and the sound alone made my cock swell and harder than it ever was, and I was hard again now.

I took her soft, sweet lips in a lingering kiss, and my tongue feverishly tangled with hers and the groans she made last night she reenacted again with the kiss alone. I never thought moments like this would come into my life again as I tried to turn my back on the things that indicated a serious relationship.

I loved Audrey more than the word itself. I'd never felt too damned satisfied and too damned ravenous for more when it comes to women. It's just Audrey, now and before.

She gasped when I moved on top of her. "Gabriel…"

I laughed softly at her reaction. How easy it was to turn her on. "I wanted to be buried inside of you again, but I'm afraid we still have one more day of the games today." I trailed my hand on her shoulder, to her breast, down to the curve of her hips, then I gripped her thigh.

Her hips and pelvis lifted off the mattress. "It was so good." She gulped. "Last night was so good."

"Hmm. I guess I woke up the little tigress," I teased.

"I want more."

I kissed her nose. "You are so fucking sexy when you talk like that. I might not be able to restrain myself, but—" I stepped out of bed "—we're late."

As much as I wanted to enjoy the quiet, mellow morning, I still had a fucking interview today. It wasn't that I was so eager to answer those probably stupid questions. I just wanted to get it over with.

***

Audrey asked me to return to the arena separately because she didn't want the people to see us together. I understand that she didn't want them to know our relationship, but I was fed up with secret affairs. Especially now that I saw Bryan Jameson greeting my angel in a cozy-for-his-own-good embrace.

The only problem I had with that was because I knew Bryan too damned well. He was like me before Audrey came to life again. I deliberately strolled towards them when Carla fucking Garner blocked the way with her cameraman.

"Good morning, Gabriel." She greeted with a smile I very much like to see before she fucked up between us.

I sighed. "Carla."

"Are you ready? We're already an hour past our schedule since it's already ten in the morning." She checked her wristwatch. "I have business to attend to back in Manhattan this afternoon."

I scowled. "Is that my problem now, Carla?"

"It's not my fault that you're late." She glanced in the direction where my eyes were still set. Right now, my sweet angel was surrounded by predators. It wasn't just Bryan but some of the designers from my creative department with her friend Chelsea.

"Ah, the assistant," Carla went on. "I see what's up with you now—"

"Excuse me for a moment, if you please." I stormed past her and paced toward Audrey. I heard her friend inviting her to come with them tonight for some dinner get-together as I approached.

"Come with us, Audrey. It'll be fun," Harvey, my senior designer, told her, and that hand shouldn't be on her shoulder. "It's my treat since it's my birthday today."

"Um, I don't think I can—"

"Do you have plans tonight?" he asked persistently.

"No plans yet, but—"

"Then you should come," Michael Miller, the assistant art fucking director, insisted. That made my blood boil.

I was about to call out Audrey when Carla's annoying face blocked me again. "Gabriel. If you like, I can just answer the questions I prepared for you myself because guess what, I know things about you. Your choice."

I exhaled in frustration, "Fuck! Fine. And so finally I can have peace of mind. Where should we do it?"

She grinned impishly. "Great. We can do it here. I'll have my men prepare a seat for us. Jim!" She snapped her finger in the air and instructed some men to place those things they were dragging everywhere that seemed to be lounger seats where I was standing. I crossed my arms and scratched my temple. I glanced in Audrey's direction, and our eyes met.

"So, shall we begin?" Carla asked as soon as she was seated then crossed her legs.

"For all the trouble, yes, Carla." I shook my head in disbelief. Why the heck do I agree to this?

"Great! Just so you know, this will not only be published, but the interview is being aired live on the Exclusive YouTube Channel." She gave a signal to the cameraman to start filming, and the people around us were beginning to gather to watch. And just like the best actor I was, I tried to change my facial expression into a very sweet fucking smile, and Carla began.

"Good morning, Exclusives! This is Carla Garner, and we're here again for another pleasant, juicy, and of course—exclusive broadcast with our favorite real-life personalities. Today sitting with us is none other than our famous, rich, and handsome ‘new kid on the block,' the owner of the Stark Apparel Inc., Mr. Gabriel Stark!"

The audience around us erupted into a round of applause. They fucking left the game to watch this stupid interview.

I waved my hand on the camera and grinned as if this kind of thing pleases me. The Exclusive still had a reputation for interviewing well-known individuals, so I still had to make a positive appearance for my brand.

"Exclusive is lucky to have the pleasure of having you here, Mr. Stark. First of all, thank you very much for inviting us here."

I nodded casually. "You're welcome. It's my pleasure," I answered.

"As much as possible, we aim to build a good relationship here between Exclusive and Stark Apparel, so we are going to make this a fun day for everyone. Are you ready, Mr. Stark?"

The only fun I will have today is when this is finally over. "Sure, Carla, Whenever you are ready."

"Okay. So…" She shifted her leg to the other side. "Everyone already knows that the Stark family is one of the elites of Manhattan, but we never really saw the real face of Gabriel Stark, and this is a great opportunity to see a side of you that we have not yet seen. You play tennis, too, Mr. Stark. Is this another of your dreams that has yet to come true? Becoming a tennis star?"

I chuckled. "Uh, no. I like sports, but I couldn't see myself standing by the net, but around art all the time, Miss Garner. It is a hobby I shared with my father, Elazar Stark."

"For a hobby, you are very good at the sport," she praised. "Tell us about the new venture we should expect the Stark Apparel this year."

"We are collaborating with a Spanish and a brilliant Italian designer, but the name is still a secret. It's a surprise, but of course, it is something to be expected from the brand," I went on. I might as well use this marketing a chance. "We've finally got to see another fusion of my brand together with those famous fashion designers. We certainly have something to look forward to in the coming season."

Carla nodded. "This is for the winter collection, is it?"

"Yes, correct." I grinned at her as if I didn't loathe her.

"Can we also expect another big fashion show in history?"

"Stark Apparel always works for the best," I answered.

"Shall we take that as a yes?" She grinned back, looking around the crowd and into the camera. "Last year's fashion show in Paris was a bomb. Maybe we can witness much bigger with the two "still" unnamed famous fashion designers on the line.  Did you hear that, Stark Apparel fans? We definitely have something to look forward to."

"We believe so too." She smiled again. "Thank you very much for answering all those questions Mr. Stark," she said. "But that isn't where the interview ends. We are going to entertain one question coming from an audience. Let's invite her here. I think she is one of your guests."

A young woman stepped forward, and one of Carla's men gave her a microphone.

"Hi lovely, what is your name?" Carla asked her.

"I'm Gem, and I work in LA Hazel Textiles," she answered.

"Oh wow. Brave young employee," Carla commented.

"Ask away, Gem," I said. Hazel textile was one of our contractor partners of premium fabrics providers.

"You two have been engaged before, Carla Garner and Gabriel Stark. Did you get back together?" she asked without hesitation. "That's the question."

I was momentarily stunned. "Let's remain professional here," I answered and sighed. "And let's not talk about old news, okay?"

Someone from the crowd shouted. "But you look good together!"

"Isn't Carla Garner who you are talking about?"

"When did you two become engaged?"

"Is this interview finally a start-over?!" another one screamed that I saw her talking to earlier.

I slipped a glance at Carla, who seemed to be enjoying this, smiling sheepishly at me. Did she just press this on me? I knew she was always up to something because my employee would never do this to me, and she was fucking airing this live!

I looked for Audrey again, who seemed to be hiding her eyes in an awkward stance.

Fuck!

"Actually, I'd like to answer the previous question," I said and shot a stern gaze at Carla, and the smile across her face faded.

"Let's hear it, Mr. Stark," she forcibly said.

"I do have a girlfriend. She is here. I don't want to upset her, so let's stop it now. Thank you."

This was why I couldn't have her in secret anymore. I was done with that. I set my eyes back in Audrey's direction, and she was looking back at me with wide eyes.

I sprang up and walked in her direction and stopped at the ground where she was standing,

"Come here, angel." I offered a hand to her, and every eye around us swung in her direction. I didn't care.

"What are you doing?" she mouthed unbelievably and tried to hide her face.

"Just come."

She stared back at me, unmoving.

I cocked my head to the side, signaling her again to come with me. But she couldn't respond, so I just grabbed her hand and took her away.